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popcorn

When hunger pangs strike in the middle of a busy work day, don't run to the nearest vending machine. Stock your desk with these healthy picks.

#1: Homemade Trail Mix

Make your own crunchy concoction by combining dried fruit, whole-grain pretzels, nuts and dark chocolate chips. Calories typically average about 175 per ¼ cup but the calories are coming from good-quality ingredients. You can keep portions in check by measuring out ¼ cup and packing into individual bags ahead of time.

#2: Snack Bar

Typically made with a combo of whole grains, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, snack bars are good to grab in-between meals to curb hunger. Look for bars that contain no more than 200 calories each.

This whole-grain snack has 35 calories per freshly popped cup. Flavor it simply with spices and kosher salt or try one of the recipes below. Portion out 2 to 3 cups of popcorn into individual snack bags.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling for a ban on several of the most common food dyes, saying they lead to hyperactivity in children. Last week, however, the FDA claimed the evidence wasn’t strong enough to warrant a ban. Here's the latest on this hot debate.